US: Pork price reporting law passed/ NPPC backs law

The Senate approved legislation to reauthorise the law requiring meat packers to report to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the prices they pay producers for animals.

The National Pork Producers Council strongly supports the law and its extension.

Senators passed by voice vote S. 3656, sponsored by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., to reauthorise for five years the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act, which is set to expire Sept. 30. The reauthorising bill, which would extend the law to Sept. 30, 2015, also adds to the reporting law provisions requiring weekly reporting of pork exports – by price and volume – and of wholesale pork cuts.

NPPC shows gratitude

“NPPC is grateful that the Senate has approved extension of this important law on mandatory price reporting,” said NPPC President Sam Carney, a pork producer from Adair, Iowa. “We implore the House to act swiftly on its bill reauthorising the price reporting law, which will help producers make business and production decisions.”

Companion House legislation, sponsored by Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., was approved by that panel July 28. The full House is expected to take up the measure, H.R. 5852, after lawmakers return from a month-long recess.

“The reauthorised price reporting law will bring even more transparency and certainty to the livestock markets,” Carney said.“This is the way – Congress working with the industries rather than bureaucrats dictating to them through regulations – to bring about competition and fairness.”